News Roomhttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/newsroom/in_the_news?field_release_type_tid=All&sort_by=field_date_value&sort_order=DESC
Subscribe to releaseenMayor Bowser Releases District’s Plan to End Opioid Epidemichttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-releases-district%E2%80%99s-plan-end-opioid-epidemic
<div class="field field-name-field-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-12-24T00:00:00-05:00">Monday, December 24, 2018</span></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>(Washington, DC) &ndash; Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Department of Behavioral Health announced the release of LIVE. LONG. DC., the District&rsquo;s strategic plan to reduce opioid use and misuse and to reduce opioid-related deaths by 50 percent by 2020.</p>
<p>&ldquo;This plan outlines how District agencies will work with our public and community partners to tackle DC&rsquo;s opioid epidemic,&rdquo; said Mayor Bowser. &ldquo;We know that the opioid epidemic in our city looks different than how the epidemic is talked about nationwide. This plan was created in response to the specific needs of our community and focuses our resources on increasing awareness and prevention, enhancing treatment offerings, and strengthening recovery supports.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Created by a public-private working group of more than 40 stakeholders, LIVE. LONG. DC. outlines strategies to address the opioid epidemic through prevention, treatment, and recovery supports. Even as the plan was under development, ideas sparked from the working group were put into practice right away and so several of the strategic approaches are already well underway.</p>
<p>The plan&rsquo;s seven goals include:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Goal 1</strong>: Reduce legislative and regulatory barriers to create a comprehensive surveillance and response that supports sustainable solutions to emerging trends in substance use disorder, opioid-related overdoses, and opioid-related fatalities.</li>
<li><strong>Goal 2:</strong> Educate District residents and key stakeholders on the risks of opioid use disorders and effective prevention and treatment options.</li>
<li><strong>Goal 3:</strong> Engage health professionals and organizations in the prevention and early intervention of substance use disorder among District residents.</li>
<li><strong>Goal 4:</strong> Support the awareness and availability of, and access to, harm reduction services in Washington, DC.</li>
<li><strong>Goal 5:</strong> Ensure equitable and timely access to high-quality substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services.</li>
<li><strong>Goal 6:</strong> Develop and implement a shared vision between Washington, DC&rsquo;s justice and public health agencies to address the needs of individuals who come in contact with the criminal justice system to develop a culture of empathy for residents and their families.</li>
<li><strong>Goal 7:</strong> Develop effective law enforcement strategies that reduce the supply of illegal opioids in Washington, DC.</li>
</ul>
<p>&ldquo;By employing evidence-based strategies and promising practices, LIVE. LONG. DC. will serve as the roadmap for us to enhance the work that we all do to create prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies that reduce opioid use disorder in the District,&rdquo; said Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, Interim Director of the DC Department of Behavioral Health. &ldquo;We have been consistent in making progress and this brings us closer to meeting our goal.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Much of the plan&rsquo;s work will be supported by $21 million through the <a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/ti-18-015">State Opioid Response (SOR)</a> grant, disbursed over a one-year period, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Washington, DC will receive an additional $21 million, for a total of $42 million over two years, from the grant during the next federal fiscal year. The SOR grant will help to:</p>
<ul>
<li>increase access to medication-assisted treatment, which combines behavioral therapy and medications to treat opioid use disorders;</li>
<li>reduce unmet treatment needs; and</li>
<li>lower opioid overdose related deaths through the provision of prevention, treatment, and recovery activities, including for heroin, illicit fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, and prescription opioids.</li>
</ul>
<p>Additional federal grants will be used to fund the plan. The <a href="https://dchealth.dc.gov/release/doh-receives-cdc-funding-evaluate-prevention-opioid-misuse-abuse-and-overdose">Prescription Drug Overdose: Data-Driven Prevention Initiative (DDPI)</a>, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant, supports the District&rsquo;s ability to improve community prevention programs and data collection and analysis around opioid misuse, abuse, and overdose. The CDC funded <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/readiness/funding-crisis.htm">Public Health Crisis NOFO</a> grant provides $3.7 million to build Washington, DC&rsquo;s capacity to respond to unusual surges of opioid overdoses and augment existing surveillance and prevention efforts.</p>
<p>The plan will complement the DC Government&rsquo;s existing interagency work to reduce opioid use disorder that includes improving data and surveillance, expanding access to life-saving harm reduction best practices, and educating residents on risks and treatment options through innovative public campaigns.</p>
<p>To read LIVE. LONG. DC. and learn more about the budget investments and the timeline overview in the plan, visit <a href="https://dbh.dc.gov">dbh.dc.gov</a>.</p>
</div></div></div>Mon, 24 Dec 2018 17:05:19 +0000elizabeth.brooks1375456 at https://dmhhs.dc.govhttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-releases-district%E2%80%99s-plan-end-opioid-epidemic#commentsMayor Bowser to Activate The District’s Cold Emergency Plan Tonight, November 21https://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-activate-district%E2%80%99s-cold-emergency-plan-tonight-november-21
<div class="field field-name-field-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-11-21T00:00:00-05:00">Wednesday, November 21, 2018</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-sub-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Cold Emergency Plan, Which Will Remain Activated Through Friday, November 23, Guarantees Shelter Beds for Individuals in Need</div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><strong>(Washington, DC)</strong> &ndash; Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the DC Department of Human Services (DHS), in collaboration with the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), will activate the jurisdiction&rsquo;s Cold Emergency Plan tonight, Wednesday, November 21, at 7&nbsp;pm&nbsp;through Friday, November 23, at 7 am.</p>
<p>Under a Cold Emergency Alert, the District provides additional services and supports to protect residents from life-threatening illness and injuries associated with severe cold weather. To request transportation to shelter for persons in DC who are experiencing homelessness, contact the toll-free Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or by calling 311.</p>
<p>All Washingtonians are encouraged to check on neighbors, especially the elderly and vulnerable populations, to ensure they are taking proper precautions ahead of the expected cold weather conditions this evening and into Friday, November 23, 2018.</p>
<p>Cold Emergency Alerts occur when the National Weather Service forecasts weather that presents a danger to residents, especially those who are outdoors and experiencing homelessness. Alerts are triggered by either a combination of temperature and wind chill below 15&deg; F, or a combination of temperature and wind chill below 20&deg; F along with an accompanying weather event such as snow.</p>
<p>Key services provided during Cold Emergency Alerts include:<br />
<br />
<strong>Access to Emergency Shelter</strong> &mdash; Low-barrier shelters that accept all individuals and families in need are open, along with designated cold emergency alert shelters.<br />
<br />
<strong>Access to Overnight Warming Sites</strong> &mdash; Designated public buildings may open during the day or overnight. Individuals can access these sites on their own or by contacting the Shelter Hotline for transportation. Overnight Warming Sites are in operation from 7 pm&nbsp;until 7 am. Some sites may open later than 7 pm&nbsp;based on regularly scheduled business operations.<br />
<br />
<strong>Transportation to Warmth and Safety</strong> &mdash; Free transportation to an emergency shelter or warming site is provided to anyone experiencing homelessness in the District during a Cold Emergency Alert. <strong>To request transportation to shelter for persons in DC who are experiencing homelessness, contact the toll free Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or by calling 311.</strong> When calling the hotline, please include the time, the address or location of the sighting, and a description of the person&rsquo;s appearance. Please call 911 if it appears there is an immediately risk to an individual&rsquo;s safety.<br />
<br />
Families seeking emergency shelter can call the DC Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or 311 at any time day or night. Families may also visit the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center at 920 Rhode Island Avenue, NE, Monday through Thursday between 8 am&nbsp;and 4:30 pm, and Friday between 8 am&nbsp;and 12:30 pm&nbsp;The center is closed on Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23, 2018.<br />
<br />
The following shelter locations are open:</p>
<p><strong>Cold Emergency Alert Night Shelters for Women</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>New Covenant Baptist Church at 1301 W Street, SE</li>
<li>Community of Christ Church at 3526 Massachusetts Avenue, NW</li>
<li>Sherwood Recreation Center at 640 10th Street, NE</li>
<li>King Greenleaf Recreation Center at 201 N Street, SW</li>
<li>Harriet Tubman Shelter at 1900 Massachusetts Avenue, SE</li>
<li>Nativity Shelter at 6010 Georgia Avenue, NW</li>
<li>Patricia Handy Place for Women at 810 5 Street, NW</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Cold Emergency Alert Night Shelters for Men</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Banneker Recreation Center at 2500 Georgia Avenue, NW</li>
<li>Kennedy Recreation Center at 1401 7th Street, NW</li>
<li>Community for Creative Non-Violence at 425 2nd Street, NW</li>
<li>801 East Shelter at 801 Making Life Better Lane, SE</li>
<li>Adams Place Shelter at 2210 Adams Place, NE</li>
<li>New York Avenue Shelter at 1355-57 New York Avenue, NE</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Co-Ed Cold Emergency Alert Night Shelters</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Salvation Army at 3335 Sherman Avenue, NW</li>
</ul>
</div></div></div>Thu, 22 Nov 2018 00:03:14 +0000david.hudson1370001 at https://dmhhs.dc.govhttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-activate-district%E2%80%99s-cold-emergency-plan-tonight-november-21#commentsMayor Bowser Cuts the Ribbon on the Latest Short-Term Family Housing Program, The Triumph in Ward 8https://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-cuts-ribbon-latest-short-term-family-housing-program-triumph-ward-8
<div class="field field-name-field-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-11-13T00:00:00-05:00">Tuesday, November 13, 2018</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-sub-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">In Keeping Her Promise to Close DC General, Mayor Bowser Continues Momentum towards Providing Dignified, Service-Enriched Programs for Vulnerable Neighbors across All Eight Wards</div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>(Washington, DC) &ndash; Today, Mayor Bowser cut the ribbon on The Triumph, the short-term family housing program in Ward 8, the third of three short-term family housing programs promised to open this fall, following the opening of <a href="https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-cuts-ribbon-ward-4-short-term-family-housing-program-marking-monumental-step">The Kennedy</a> in Ward 4 and <a href="https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-cuts-ribbon-latest-short-term-family-housing-program-horizon-ward-7">The Horizon</a> in Ward 7. A key strategy behind Homeward DC, the Bowser Administration&rsquo;s strategic plan to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring, includes the development of smaller, community-based short-term family housing programs to replace the outdated DC General Family Shelter, which Mayor Bowser closed on October 30, 2018.</p>
<p>&ldquo;With each ribbon-cutting, we are taking the right steps to help our most vulnerable neighbors get the services they need in a dignified environment so that they can get back on their feet,&rdquo; said Mayor Bowser. &ldquo;I am proud of all the residents from across the District who stepped up to help us close DC General and who are committed to spreading the values of shared prosperity. Together, we are transforming lives and putting more families and children on a better path forward.&rdquo;</p>
<p>At The Triumph, families will have access to service-enriched programming that will help them stabilize and exit homelessness. The site includes fifty family units, computer labs for the residents, administrative space for staff and providers, outdoor playground and recreational space, age-appropriate indoor recreation space, a homework and study lounge for residents, and other amenities.</p>
<p>&ldquo;As we continue our efforts to prevent homelessness&mdash;which we have done successfully for more than 5,700 families&mdash;we recognize that these programs are the centerpiece of the transformation of our emergency response system for adults with children,&rdquo; said Director of the DC Department of Human Services (DHS) Laura Zeilinger. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m so glad that DC General is closed and families placed in our new short-term family housing programs are in dignified, service-enriched settings that will help them quickly return to their communities.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The Triumph is designed to meet LEED Gold certification for homes and includes onsite stormwater quality-control (limiting offsite runoff), a green roof, energy efficient windows, and a high-efficiency HVAC system.</p>
<p>In January, Mayor Bowser released her plan and timeline to close DC General Family Shelter by the end of 2018. On October 30, 2018, she kept that promise to District residents and closed &ndash; once and for all &ndash; the outdated shelter. In its place, smaller, more dignified programs are being built across the District. In addition to The Triumph, The Kennedy, and The Horizon, the Administration also opened the Patricia Handy Place for Women, a low-barrier shelter for women in Ward 2, in early 2016.</p>
<p>In September, Mayor Bowser announced the three service providers that will run the short-term family housing programs in Wards 4, 7, and 8. The Triumph will be operated by Community of Hope; The Horizon will be operated by Life Deeds; and The Kennedy will be operated by The National Center for Children and Families.</p>
<p>Beginning in May 2018, DHS ceased new placements at DC General Family Shelter. After that, DHS and partners worked to support families and swiftly exit them from DC General and into permanent housing. At full-capacity, DC General provided shelter to 270 families.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We are excited to be part of the major effort to end homelessness in the District through the construction contributions we bring,&rdquo; said Acting Director of the Department of General Services Keith Anderson. &ldquo;Supporting Mayor Bowser&rsquo;s HomewardDC Plan with the delivery of the Ward 8 short-term family housing site is a real cornerstone of our work.&rdquo;</p>
<p>As a result of the Homeward DC plan, the District has reduced overall homelessness by more than 17 percent in two years, and has reduced family homelessness by 40 percent over the same time. In addition to making unprecedented investments in affordable housing opportunities, the Administration launched a Homelessness Prevention Program which has successfully prevented a shelter stay for more than 5,700 families; increased investments in permanent housing programs by nearly 60 percent; expanded year-round access to provide immediate shelter for families in need regardless of the weather; and connected 3,900 single adults to permanent housing, including 1,700 veterans.</p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 13 Nov 2018 22:00:45 +0000elizabeth.brooks1368226 at https://dmhhs.dc.govhttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-cuts-ribbon-latest-short-term-family-housing-program-triumph-ward-8#commentsMayor Bowser to Cut the Ribbon on Latest Short-Term Family Housing Program, The Horizon in Ward 7https://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-cut-ribbon-latest-short-term-family-housing-program-horizon-ward-7
<div class="field field-name-field-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-10-08T00:00:00-04:00">Monday, October 8, 2018</span></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>(WASHINGTON, DC) &ndash;&nbsp;On Tuesday, October 9, at 5 pm, Mayor Bowser will cut the ribbon on The Horizon, a short-term family housing program in Ward 7, marking another step forward in delivering on her promise to close and replace DC General Family Shelter with dignified, service-enriched programs across all eight wards. The Horizon is the second of three short-term family housing programs opening this fall, following the opening of&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-cuts-ribbon-ward-4-short-term-family-housing-program-marking-monumental-step" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Kennedy</a>&nbsp;in Ward 4.</p>
<p>The newly constructed Ward 7 short-term family housing program will include thirty-five family units, computer labs for its residents, administrative space for staff and providers, an outdoor playground and recreational space, age-appropriate indoor recreation space and a homework/study lounge for residents.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, Mayor Bowser released her&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-prepares-closure-dc-general-shelter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">plan</a>&nbsp;and timeline to close DC General Family Shelter by the end of 2018, keeping a promise to District residents to close &ndash; once and for all &ndash; the outdated shelter. In its place, smaller, more dignified programs are being built across the District. The first ribbon cutting was held Wednesday, September 26, at The Kennedy, the Ward 4 short-term family housing program, and the Ward 8 short-term family housing program will open next month. These short-term family housing programs join the Patricia Handy Place for Women, a low-barrier shelter for women in Ward 2 that began providing services to District women in need of a safe place to stay in early 2016.&nbsp;These short-term family housing programs are the centerpiece of the transformation of Mayor Bowser&rsquo;s emergency response system for families.</p>
<p><strong>WHEN:</strong><br />
Tuesday, October 9, at 5 pm</p>
<p><strong>WHO:</strong><br />
Mayor Muriel Bowser<br />
Councilmember Vincent Gray, Ward 7<br />
Laura Zeilinger, Director, Department of Human Services<br />
Greer Gillis, Director, Department of General Services<br />
Keith Towery, Co-Chair, Ward 7 Short-Term Family Housing Advisory Team</p>
<p><strong>WHERE:</strong><br />
The Horizon<br />
5004 D Street, SE<br />
<strong>*Closest Metros: Benning Road Metro Station*</strong></p>
<p>Press interested in attending the event are asked to RSVP to&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="mailto:press@dc.gov" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">press@dc.gov</a>. To view the event online, visit&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://mayor.dc.gov/live" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mayor.dc.gov/live</a>&nbsp;or tune in on Channel 16 (DCN).</p>
</div></div></div>Mon, 08 Oct 2018 19:48:19 +0000lynn.romano1361011 at https://dmhhs.dc.govhttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-cut-ribbon-latest-short-term-family-housing-program-horizon-ward-7#commentsMayor Bowser Cuts the Ribbon on the Ward 4 Short-Term Family Housing Program, Marking Monumental Step Forward in Closing and Replacing DC Generalhttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-cuts-ribbon-ward-4-short-term-family-housing-program-marking-monumental-step
<div class="field field-name-field-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-09-26T00:00:00-04:00">Wednesday, September 26, 2018</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-sub-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Program to Include Wrap-Around Services Designed to Help Families Experiencing Homelessness Stabilize and Exit Homelessness Quickly</div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>(WASHINGTON, DC) &ndash; Today, Mayor Bowser cut the ribbon on The Kennedy, the short-term family housing program in Ward 4, marking another step forward in delivering on her promise to close and replace DC General Family Shelter with dignified, service-enriched programs across all eight wards. The Kennedy is the first of three short-term family housing programs opening this fall.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Coming into office, I promised we would close DC General and replace it with programs throughout the District that do a better job of supporting our most vulnerable families. Today, we are making good on that commitment,&rdquo; said Mayor Bowser. &ldquo;With this short term family housing program in Ward 4, we will be able to provide families with the shelter and resources they need to get back on their feet and back into permanent housing quickly. By working together, our community can and will make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring.&rdquo;</p>
<p>At The Kennedy, families will have access to service-enriched programming that will help them stabilize and exit homelessness. The site includes 45 family units, computer labs for the residents, administrative space for staff and providers, an outdoor playground and recreational space, an indoor recreation space, a homework/study lounge for residents, and other amenities.</p>
<p>&ldquo;As we continue our efforts to prevent homelessness&mdash;which we have done successfully for more than 5,700 families&mdash;we recognize that these programs are the centerpiece of the transformation of our emergency response system for adults with children,&rdquo; said Director of the DC Department of Human Services (DHS) Laura Zeilinger. &ldquo;I am so proud we can begin placing families in need of short term emergency housing into these new programs starting in the next couple of weeks.&rdquo;</p>
<p>In January, Mayor Bowser released her <a href="https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-prepares-closure-dc-general-shelter">plan</a> and timeline to close DC General Family Shelter by the end of 2018, keeping a promise to District residents to close &ndash; once and for all &ndash; the outdated shelter. In its place, smaller, more dignified programs are being built across the District. The Patricia Handy Place for Women, a low-barrier shelter for women in Ward 2, began operations in early 2016. The Ward 7 and Ward 8 programs will open in October and November, respectively. Short-term family housing programs are the centerpiece of Mayor Bowser&rsquo;s transformation of the District&rsquo;s emergency response system for families.</p>
<p>Earlier this month, Mayor Bowser announced the three service providers that her Administration selected to run the short-term family housing programs in Wards 4, 7, and 8. The Kennedy, will be operated by <a href="https://www.nccf-cares.org/" target="_blank">The National Center for Children and Families</a>; the Ward 7 program, The Horizon, will be operated by Life Deeds; and the Ward 8 site will be operated by <a href="https://www.communityofhopedc.org/" target="_blank">Community of Hope</a>.</p>
<p>The Kennedy is designed to meet LEED Gold certification and includes onsite stormwater quality control limiting offsite runoff, a green roof, energy efficient windows, and a high-efficiency HVAC system.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We are proud to support Mayor Bowser&#39;s efforts to end homelessness with the delivery of the Ward 4 short-term family housing site,&rdquo; said Greer Johnson Gillis, Director of the Department of General Services. &ldquo;The Kennedy also keeps DC on the path to becoming the greenest city in the world.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Establishing an effective crisis response system, including the development of smaller, community-based short-term family housing programs, is a key strategy of Homeward DC, the Bowser Administration&rsquo;s strategic plan to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring. Beginning in May 2018, DHS ceased new placements at DC General Family Shelter. Since that time, DHS and partners have worked to support families and swiftly exit them from DC General and into permanent housing. At full-capacity, DC General provided shelter to 260 families. Today, only 55 families remain at the shelter.</p>
<p>As a result of the Homeward DC plan, the District has reduced overall homelessness by more than 17 percent in two years, and has reduced family homelessness by 40 percent over the same time. In addition to making unprecedented investments in affordable housing opportunities, the Administration launched a Homelessness Prevention Program which has successfully prevented a shelter stay for more than 5,700 families; increased investments in permanent housing programs by nearly 60 percent; expanded year-round access to provide immediate shelter for families in need regardless of the weather; and connected 3,900 single adults to permanent housing, including 1,700 veterans.</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 26 Sep 2018 16:02:13 +0000elizabeth.brooks1358361 at https://dmhhs.dc.govhttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-cuts-ribbon-ward-4-short-term-family-housing-program-marking-monumental-step#commentsMayor Bowser to Cut the Ribbon on Ward 4 Short-Term Family Housing Program, Marking Monumental Step Forward in Closing and Replacing DC Generalhttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-cut-ribbon-ward-4-short-term-family-housing-program-marking-monumental-step
<div class="field field-name-field-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-09-25T00:00:00-04:00">Tuesday, September 25, 2018</span></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>(WASHINGTON, DC) &ndash; On Wednesday, September 26, at 11 am,&nbsp;Mayor Bowser will cut the ribbon on &ldquo;The Kennedy,&rdquo; a Short-Term Family Housing program in Ward 4, marking another step forward in delivering on her promise to close and replace DC General Family Shelter with dignified, service-enriched programs across all eight wards.</p>
<p>The newly constructed Ward 4 Short Term Family program will include 45 family units, computer labs for the residents, administrative space for staff and providers, outdoor playground and recreational space, age-appropriate indoor recreation space, homework/study lounge for residents and other amenities.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, Mayor Bowser released her plan and timeline to close DC General Family Shelter by the end of 2018, keeping a promise to District residents to close &ndash; once and for all &ndash; the outdated shelter. In its place, smaller, more dignified programs are being built across all eight wards. In addition to the Ward 4 program, two additional short-term family housing programs &ndash; in Wards 7 and 8 &ndash; will open in October and November, respectively. These short-term family housing programs join the Patricia Handy Place for Women, a low-barrier shelter for women in Ward 2, that began providing services to District women in need of a safe place to stay in early 2016. These Short-term Family Housing programs are the centerpiece of the transformation of Mayor Bowser&rsquo;s emergency response system for families. The Kennedy will be the first of the new sites to begin delivering services to families.</p>
<p><strong>WHEN:</strong></p>
<p>Wednesday, September 26, at 11 am</p>
<p><strong>WHO:</strong></p>
<p>Mayor Muriel Bowser<br />
Councilmember Brandon Todd, Ward 4<br />
Laura Zeilinger, Director, Department of Human Services<br />
Greer Gillis, Director, Department of General Services<br />
Lisa Colbert, Co-Chair, Ward 4 Short-Term Family Housing Advisory Team</p>
<p><strong>WHERE:</strong></p>
<p>The Kennedy<br />
5505 5th Street, NW<br />
<strong>*Closest Metro: Fort Totten Metro Station*</strong></p>
<p>Press interested in attending the event are asked to RSVP to <a href="mailto:press@dc.gov" title="press@dc.gov">press@dc.gov</a>. To view the event online, visit mayor.dc.gov/live or tune in on Channel 16 (DCN).</p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:13:16 +0000elizabeth.brooks1358171 at https://dmhhs.dc.govhttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-cut-ribbon-ward-4-short-term-family-housing-program-marking-monumental-step#commentsMayor Bowser to Host DC’s First Maternal and Infant Health Summithttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-host-dc%E2%80%99s-first-maternal-and-infant-health-summit
<div class="field field-name-field-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-09-11T00:00:00-04:00">Tuesday, September 11, 2018</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-sub-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Convening of Health Experts, Policy Makers and Community Members Will Discuss the High Rates of Maternal Mortality Experienced by People of Color and Steps Forward Towards Solutions</div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>(WASHINGTON, DC) &ndash; On Wednesday, September 12, at 9 am, Mayor Muriel Bowser will host DC&rsquo;s First Maternal and Infant Health Summit. Mayor Bowser is bringing together a vibrant list of speakers and leaders to address a community audience and develop an agenda that tackles the disproportionally high rates of maternal mortality experienced by people of color &ndash; in both Washington, DC and across the nation.</p>
<p>Leading the conversations for the day-long convening: Valerie Jarrett, Cathy Hughes, Mayors Karen Freeman-Wilson (Gary, IN), Catherine Pugh (Baltimore, MD), Lovely A. Warren (Rochester, NY), Karen Weaver (Flint, MI), among others.</p>
<p>The summit, which is free and open to the public, is an opportunity for elected officials, health experts, and DC residents to have a focused conversation regarding perinatal health and racial disparities in birth outcomes. The event will feature panel discussions and a luncheon to articulate and share the best infant and maternal health practices.</p>
<p>To learn more and to RSVP for Mayor Bowser&rsquo;s Maternal and Infant Health Summit, visit <a href="http://dcmaternalhealth.com" target="_blank">dcmaternalhealth.com</a>.</p>
<p><strong>WHO</strong>:</p>
<p>Mayor Muriel Bowser<br />
Valerie B. Jarrett, Former Senior Advisor, Obama Administration<br />
Cathy Hughes, Founder and Chairperson, Urban One, Inc.<br />
Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, Director, DC Department of Health<br />
Leading Mayors<br />
Public Health Leaders<br />
DC Moms, Families, and Members of the Public</p>
<p><strong>WHEN</strong>:</p>
<p>Wednesday, September 12, at 9 am</p>
<p><strong>WHERE</strong>:</p>
<p>Washington Convention Center &ndash; Ballroom B &amp; C<br />
801 Mt Vernon Place, NW<br />
<strong>*Closest Metro: Mt Vernon Square 7th St-Convention Center Metro Station*</strong></p>
<p>Press interested in attending the event are asked to RSVP to <a href="mailto:press@dc.gov">press@dc.gov.</a> To view the event online, visit mayor.dc.gov/live or tune in on Channel 16 (DCN).</p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 11 Sep 2018 19:46:39 +0000elizabeth.brooks1355156 at https://dmhhs.dc.govhttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-host-dc%E2%80%99s-first-maternal-and-infant-health-summit#commentsRibbon Cutting on New Short Term Family Housing Program in Ward 4 Coming September 26https://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/ribbon-cutting-new-short-term-family-housing-program-ward-4-coming-september-26
<div class="field field-name-field-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-08-31T00:00:00-04:00">Friday, August 31, 2018</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-sub-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">DC General On Track to Close this Fall, Bowser Administration Continues to Call on Landlords to Help Families Secure Permanent Housing</div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>(Washington, DC) &ndash; The Bowser Administration announced today that a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Short-Term Family Housing program in the District&rsquo;s Ward 4, known as The Kennedy, will be hosted on Wednesday, September 26, 2018.</p>
<p>DC General Family Shelter is on track to close permanently in the Fall of 2018, keeping a promise to District residents to shutter the aging and institutional shelter forever and to provide dignified short-term housing to families experiencing the crisis of homelessness. With family homelessness down 40 percent since 2016, the Bowser Administration continues its ask landlords to partner with the District to ensure that every family who needs shelter has a safe and affordable apartment to call home as they transition to housing.</p>
<p>in May, the Department of Human Services (DHS) stopped making new placements at the DC General Family Shelter. At full capacity, DC General provided shelter to 260 families. Today, only 88 families remain at the shelter, and there are still opportunities for landlords to help these families find new their home.</p>
<p>Partnerships with local landlords are critical to achieving the goals of <a href="https://ich.dc.gov/page/homeward-dc-ich-strategic-plan-2015-2020">Homeward DC</a>, Mayor Bowser&rsquo;s strategic plan to end homelessness in the District. The tenant screening criteria used by many landlords represents a challenge to identifying suitable options for families and individuals experiencing homelessness. These criteria will often disqualify potential tenants as a result of poor credit scores and/or past evictions.</p>
<p>To combat these challenges, Mayor Bowser announced the implementation of a Landlord Partnership Fund in October 2017. <a href="https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-announces-landlord-partnership-fund">The Landlord Partnership Fund</a> offers protections to private sector landlords to encourage them to relax their screening criteria. The protections include a right to collect from the Fund to cover unpaid rent, damages to the rental unit, and other lease charges incurred by landlords of tenants, whose rent is subsidized by a DHS homeless services intervention, such as the Rapid Rehousing or Permanent Supportive Housing programs.</p>
<p>The Fund received a planning grant from JPMorgan Chase and was developed by the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) and the Coalition for Non Profit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED), in partnership with DHS. The Fund is operated by CNHED.</p>
<p>The closing of DC General marks an important step forward in the Bowser Administration&rsquo;s plan to replace this outdated and costly-to-maintain facility with safe, dignified, and service-enriched short-term family housing programs across the District. In addition to the Ward 4 program, two additional short-term family housing programs &ndash; in Wards 7 and 8 &ndash; will also open this fall. Ribbon-cutting celebrations for these sites will be announced in the coming weeks. These short-term family housing programs join the Patricia Handy Place for Women, a low-barrier shelter for women in Ward 2, that began providing services to District women in need of a safe place to stay in early 2016.</p>
<p>The plan to close and replace DC General is just one part of Mayor Bowser&rsquo;s bold vision to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring. As a result of the Homeward DC plan, the District has reduced overall homelessness by more than 17 percent in two years, and has reduced family homelessness by 40 percent over the same time. In addition to making unprecedented investments in affordable housing opportunities, the Administration launched a Homelessness Prevention Program which has successfully prevented a shelter stay for more than 5,700 families; increased investments in permanent housing programs by nearly 60 percent; expanded year-round access to provide immediate shelter for families in need regardless of the weather; and connected 3,900 single adults to permanent housing, including 1,700 veterans.</p>
<p>Landlords interested in participating in this program should email: <a href="mailto:NewLeaseOnLife@dc.gov" title="NewLeaseOnLife@dc.gov">NewLeaseOnLife@dc.gov</a> or visit <a href="https://dhs.dc.gov" title="dhs.dc.gov">dhs.dc.gov</a>.</p>
</div></div></div>Fri, 31 Aug 2018 15:48:25 +0000elizabeth.brooks1353281 at https://dmhhs.dc.govhttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/ribbon-cutting-new-short-term-family-housing-program-ward-4-coming-september-26#commentsMayor Bowser to Announce Progress Toward a Partnership for a New Hospital and Health Serviceshttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-announce-progress-toward-partnership-new-hospital-and-health-services
<div class="field field-name-field-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-08-10T00:00:00-04:00">Friday, August 10, 2018</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-sub-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Partnership Promises First Fully Integrated Health Care System East of the River</div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><strong>(Washington, DC)</strong> - Today, Friday, August 10, at 11 am, Mayor Muriel Bowser will announce a public-private partnership between the Government of the District of Columbia and a major regional healthcare provider to develop a new acute care community hospital and health complex on St. Elizabeths East campus in Ward 8.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>WHO</strong><br />
Mayor Muriel Bowser<br />
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton<br />
Rashad Young, City Administrator<br />
DC Administration Officials<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>WHEN</strong><br />
Friday, August 10, at 11 am&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>WHERE</strong><br />
St. Elizabeths East<br />
2700 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, SE, Gate 3<br />
<strong>*Nearest Metro: Congress Heights Metro Station*</strong></p>
<p><strong>Parking Map</strong></p>
<p><strong><img alt="Parking Map" src="/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dhcd/biography_content/images/Parking%20Map.png" style="width: 360px; height: 600px;" /></strong></p>
</div></div></div>Fri, 10 Aug 2018 12:50:38 +0000david.hudson1349591 at https://dmhhs.dc.govhttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-announce-progress-toward-partnership-new-hospital-and-health-services#commentsMayor Bowser Releases Results of the District’s Point-in-Time Count, a Survey of Number of Persons Experiencing Homelessnesshttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-releases-results-districts-point-time-count-survey-number-persons-experiencing
<div class="field field-name-field-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2018-05-08T00:00:00-04:00">Tuesday, May 8, 2018</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-sub-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">2018 Results Show Bowser Administration Efforts Are Working, Nearly 21 Percent Reduction in Families Experiencing Homelessness</div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>(Washington, DC) &ndash; Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Department of Human Services (DHS) today released the <a href="https://dhs.dc.gov/page/2018-point-time-count-people-experiencing-homelessness-district-columbia">results of the 2018 Point-in-Time (PIT) count</a>, the annual census and survey of persons and families experiencing homelessness in the District. This year&rsquo;s count was conducted on January 24, 2018 and captures the number persons either staying in the shelter system or sleeping on the street. The report, which will be released tomorrow by the Council of Governments, shows that the total number of persons experiencing homelessness in the District decreased by 7.6 percent from 2017 and 17.3 percent from 2016.</p>
<p>&ldquo;These results validate that our approach is working,&rdquo; said Mayor Bowser. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve come a long way, especially with ending family homelessness, but we have more work to do. Today, the District is much better prepared than we were three years ago to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Family homelessness decreased by 20.8 percent since last year and by nearly 40 percent since the 2016 PIT count. While the number of individuals experiencing homelessness increased by 5.2 percent between 2017 and 2018, there was a net decrease in the percentage of unsheltered individuals, meaning more individuals were in a shelter program the night of the count.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We know what it takes to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring, and the investments and reforms we have made over the past three years are producing meaningful outcomes for families,&rdquo; said DHS Director Laura Zeilinger. &ldquo;The Mayor&rsquo;s FY19 budget makes the investments needed to continue our progress with an increased prioritization of unaccompanied adults.&rdquo;</p>
<p>In 2015, Mayor Bowser and her Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) released Homeward DC, a five-year strategic plan to reform the District&rsquo;s homeless services system. This multi-pronged approach scales solutions to end homelessness such as year-round access to shelter, a robust homeless prevention program, increased capacity of the homeless system to quickly connect families with housing opportunities, and expanded services for youth experiencing homelessness.</p>
<p>The Mayor&rsquo;s Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) budget includes $23 million in new and recurring investments in Homeward DC. This is the highest proposed increase to solutions to end homelessness among unaccompanied adults since the first year of implementation in FY16. Anticipating the need for greater resources for individuals, the Mayor&rsquo;s FY19 budget also includes $40 million for the construction of a new 801 East emergency and temporary housing program for men and $9.5 million to provide permanent support housing and other services to single adults experiencing homelessness.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The Homeward DC plan is about system transformation, but change at that scale does not happen overnight. The success we are experiencing within our family subsystem demonstrates that we are on the right path,&rdquo; said Kristy Greenwalt, Executive Director of the District of Columbia Interagency Council on Homelessness. &ldquo;While there is no single recipe for ending homelessness, we have many lessons learned that will help shape our next steps as we look towards this next phase of plan implementation.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The Bowser Administration&rsquo;s plan to end homelessness embraces a housing-first strategy with the underlying goal of permanent housing for all residents. In addition to making unprecedented investments in affordable housing, since taking office, the Administration has launched new homeless prevention services, preventing a shelter stay for more than 5,000 families; increased investments in permanent housing programs by nearly 60 percent; developed interim eligibility to provide immediate shelter for families in urgent need; and connected 3,900 single adults to permanent housing, including 1,700 veterans.</p>
<p>The Point-in-Time count is conducted by The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness.</p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 08 May 2018 15:05:21 +0000elizabeth.brooks1328746 at https://dmhhs.dc.govhttps://dmhhs.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-releases-results-districts-point-time-count-survey-number-persons-experiencing#comments